The 25th of June 2024 will forever be remembered in Kenyan history as the heroic day when Kenyan youth demonstrated and breached the country’s parliament buildings with in frustration at the members of the parliament who had acceded to the passing of the finance bill of 2024, a punitive bill which, if assented to law, would become an instrument of economic slavery to the citizens of Kenya. Inasmuch as the youth eventually registered a win marked by the president declining to assent to the bill becoming law, it was a black day in Kenya, a day of infamy. This is owed to the fact that amidst all the skirmishes between the demonstrators and police deployed to maintain law and order within Nairobi CBD and the parliament buildings, property was massively destroyed, hundreds were injured, and most unfortunately, many lives were lost.

One year later, the wounds inflicted by the incidents of that day continue to hurt and the pain runs deeper. What should have been a day of commemoration yesterday became a day of rage. Notably, not just the Kenyan youth came out to the streets this time, a sure sign that the larger citizenry of Kenya is fed up with the kind of governance that is being carried out by those who wield the swords of power in the country. The one year period between June 2024 and June 2025 has been marred by total disregard of the rule of law characterized by multiple incidents of abductions, police brutality and extrajudicial killings. Just a fortnight ago, Albert Ojwang, a teacher and blogger on X (formerly Twitter) met his death in police custody following comments on the conduct of the Deputy Inspector General of Police. While it is evident as the light of day that those who killed him acted on the orders of their higher-ups, to this day, these higher-ups have not been held accountable and continue to walk scot-free. Such an incident can only lead to one conclusion- that there are some people who are actually above the law.

And when the youth took to the streets last week to agitate for justice for Albert Ojwang, they were met with even more injustice. The mostly peaceful protests were infiltrated by goons who were allegedly hired by the county government of Nairobi. These allegations are corroborated by evidence of videos showing police vehicles escorting the goons. The government turned on the people and aimed to silence them using violence. A mask seller by the side of the road was shot in the head at point-blank range without any apparent provocation. Still, no one has been held accountable for such negligent use of force on a non-violent citizen.

These and many other occurrences of such nature, coupled with cases of corruption and misappropriation of public coffers as well as the conduct of the political elite who are much more focused on garnering support for themselves in the 2027 general elections than addressing the issues of their electorate who are buried in hunger, unemployment, lack of affordable education and healthcare and illegal and excessive taxation, are the reasons why 25th June 2025 could not just be a solemn day of commemoration. Kenyans had to continue fighting; this was their way of remembering the ones who died on account of the quest for a just system.

Before the material day, people circulated posters on social media platforms as well as programs for the protests. According to some of these programs, the demonstrations were to end once the demonstrators had breached the state house and hung the president. People began gathering for the scheduled demonstrations in Nairobi CBD as early as 9 am. This was also the case in other cities and major towns including Mombasa, Eldoret, Nakuru, Rongai and Nanyuki. They marched singing songs of patriotism and chanting “Ruto must go”. As has become usual during major demonstrations, emergency healthcare providers were stationed at Jamia Mosque, standby and ready to be of help to those who would fall sick or get injured in the course of demonstrations. Notably, the parliament buildings had been barricaded by razor barbed wire and armed police officers.

Altercations between police officers and demonstrators began after a while, not just in Nairobi but also in other places where demonstrations were being held, due to the destruction of public and private property that was being perpetrated by looters and thugs. What is painful to admit is that such mobsters will always take advantage of peaceful protests and make the protests seem like they are aimed at destroying property rather than agitating for basic human rights and justice. This aspect has destroyed the legitimacy of demonstrations in Kenya, and in my opinion, may be one of the reasons why the plight of demonstrators always ends up falling on to deaf ears.

Local television stations were broadcasting the events of the demonstrations live, while holding discussions with commentators in their studios. At around 1 pm, however, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) issued a  directive for television stations to stop live broadcasting of the happenings of the demonstrations, stating that such is in contravention of 33(2) and 34(1) of the constitution of Kenya. These provisions state that the freedom of expression does not extend to incitement to violence. While some television stations obliged and shut down live broadcasting, some acted in what I would term as justified defiance on the grounds of freedom of the media as articulated by article 34 of the constitution. During this period of almost total darkness regarding what was going on in the country regarding demonstrations, Kenyans on social media took upon themselves to report, scaling up the hashtag #WeAreTheMedia to achieve widespread influence much like #SiriNiNumbers, which successfully mobilized the public to rise in large numbers and advocate for their rights. Fortunately a court order was issued later in the night staying the directives of the CA.

As planned, protesters continued to make their way to the State House, despite clashes with police that threatened to impede them and hinder their resolve. They did not make it there,  but despite this as well as the fact that some people died while others got injured, the events of this day neither marked the end nor a pause to the continued struggle of Kenyans. It sure was an unusual manner of commemoration, but the state of the country has only gotten worse since 25th June 2024. And as the days have grown darker, so too has the determination to effect change grown stronger. Kenyans owe it to those who paid the ultimate price to seek justice for them, to make them proud, to fix the nation.